Photo at Bristol Aggie in Dighton

Happy fall! With the autumn equinox just around the corner, many of you are in the season's home stretch! We've been so impressed with what you've produced in a very tough year (see below for disaster-related direct payments!), and we're looking forward to the opportunity to celebrate you all. You may have seen SEMAP's 25th anniversary fundraiser on October 8th, but please stay tuned for an announcement of a farmer party in November! We'll share more details next week but we hope you all will join us for local food, drinks, live music, and dancing at this family-friendly inaugural event. Until then, please reach out if you need anything in these final days of summer and first days of fall!

In this email you'll find information on:

• Tomorrow's Twilight event
• Disaster damage funds
• Farmland availability
• Upcoming agricultural events
• Important opportunities for feedback
• Grant and award programs for food producers
• Local farming jobs
• And more!

With gratitude,

Shannon Hickey (she/her)

Program Manager

shickey@semaponline.org

(781) 908-4466

Join us this Thursday at Heart Beets Farm in Berkley! Farmer Steve produces wonderful organic fall root crops, including some of the best sweet potatoes! Learn their root crop tips and tricks, plus pest & weed management (organic and conventional) from UMass Extension Educator Sue Scheufele. One pesticide credit is available. Stop by between 4 and 6pm to share skills and connect with fellow farmers!

All of our Twilight Grower Events are FREE and we'll have childcare and a licensed mental health counselor available at each event. All are welcome and commercial growers are especially invited. Advance registration is helpful but not required. Check out the rest of the series:

Take a look at a few of the currently open grant, reimbursement, and award programs below, then check out a complete list on our webpage!

• Natural Disaster Recovery Program: To aid agricultural operations that were impacted by one or more of the 2023 Natural Disasters (February freeze, May late frost, and July rains & flooding) to rebuild and recover.
• Deadline: September 29th at 4pm
• Note: This is a non-competitive grant, meaning that all eligible farm businesses will receive some amount of funding. Every MA farm that has lost 15% of their acreage or yield should apply!

• Agricultural Food Safety Improvement Program: To reduce or prevent food safety risks while increasing market access for produce and aquaculture operations.
• Deadline: October 6th at 4pm

• Discrimination Financial Assistance Program: To assist farmers who experienced discrimination by the USDA's Farm Loan programs and FSA staff prior to 2021.
• Deadline: October 31st

REMINDER: SEMAP can assist Southeastern Massachusetts farmers in grant applications: determining eligibility, walking through the application together, reviewing before submission, offering a letter of support, or any combination of these! Apply for assistance here or email shickey@semaponline.org.

Two properties are available from the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust, both for 10-year leases. A 14-acre parcel is available for organic use only, and a 5-acre parcel is available with no organic restrictions. There is no electricity at either property; there are 2 wells at the larger property. There is no other infrastructure available. Proposals are due by November 6th.

Seven acres of farmland are available for lease in Warren, RI; the owner is amenable to other tenure types for the right person, including purchase. This property includes a 3-bedroom home, two barns, multiple irrigation sources, farm equipment, and more. The right fit for this land will be committed to sustainably farming the land. Learn more on New England Farmland Finder.

September 24, 1-4pm – Avoid Compaction: Plant Garlic into your Cover Crop – Together with Freedom Food Farm in Raynham, NOFA/MA will discuss optimizing cover crop systems

September 24, 3pm – Massachusetts Farmers of Color Circle – Organized by the Southern New England Farmers of Color Collaborative, meant to build connections and community between farmers who identify as BIPOC

September 27, 4-6pm – EMass CRAFT visit at Zeigler's Market Garden – A farm tour, discussion of small scale market gardening, potluck, and campfire for fellow farmers

October 7, 6-10pm – EMass CRAFT Farmer Open Mic Night – The 6th annual CRAFT potluck and open mic night at Clark Farm in Carlisle

November 1 (beginning of 5-week course) – Exploring the Small Farm Dream – MDAR's business planning course for aspiring and beginning farmers, including mentorship and business consultations

★★★ November 2, 5-7pm – Optimizing Farm Movements – SEMAP's hands-on workshop with Labor Movement, aiding farmworkers with adapting movement to avoid on-farm injury. Note: space is extremely limited and reserved for farm employees only; if farm managers/owners are interested, please email us. Please also reach out if you're interested in bringing an iteration of this workshop directly to your farm for a discounted rate.

1. Calculating Deer Damage on Farms – Time expectation: 15 minutes – SEMAP is organizing evidence and testimony from Southeastern MA farmers about agricultural deer pressure. Data will be used to convince state leaders to react to our regional deer crisis, award depredation permits, and develop solutions for local overpopulation.
2. Northeast Dairy Workforce Analysis – Time expectation: 15 minutes – Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center is gathering data and stories from regional dairy businesses on labor challenges and successes. Data will be used to design and pilot workforce programs with state departments of agriculture.
3. Massachusetts Hay Needs Survey – Deadline: October 15th – In response to regional and national weather events impacting hay crops, MDAR is collecting feedback from hay purchasers and producers. Data will be used by the department to identify needs and develop appropriate resources & programs.

A group of community members in Pembroke is working to establish a new farmers' market for the 2024 season, and they are seeking input from local producers to get things started. Providing answers to these questions will help gather information & in no way obligates you to participate. Share your thoughts if you may be interested in vending at this market next season!

On SEMAP's Local Food Jobs page, you'll find local food and farm job listings relevant to Southeastern Massachusetts. Here are a few picks currently on the page. Want to share a listing? Email info@semaponline.org.

Policy Director at NOFA/MA in Massachusetts, remotely

Food Hub Delivery Driver at New Entry Sustainable Farming Project in Beverly

TerraCorps Youth Education Coordinator at Holly Hill Farm in Cohasset